Compressing means for filing trays



Nov. 26, 1929. N. s. WELK COMPRESSING MEANS FOR FILING TRAYS Filed Sept.19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Mm (44 BY (9% Y a? ATTORNEYS Nov. 26,1929. N. s. WELK I COMPRESSING MEANS FOR FILING TRAYS Filed Sept. 19,1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M if t/LU, BY MM 9 I8 ATTORNEYSislocked-in, and released-from, pressure;

Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NELSON S. WELK, OFATHENS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCBEE BINDER COMPANY, OF ATHENS, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO COMPRESSING MEAJNS FOR FILING TRAYS Applicationfiled September 19, 1925. Serial No. 57,299.

My invention relates to filing trays, and particularly to releasable,compressible, means for firmly holding the filed papers in position. Y

My object is to provide novel and expedient means-ufor this purpose, inwhich the forward presser plate and the follower plate may each beeasily and quickly released from their compressing positions so'as toprovide ready and convenient access to any of the filed "papers. I

My invention consists of certain details of construction hereinafter setforth, pointed out in my claims, andillustrated in the accompanymgdrawings, in which 'Fig. 15 is airexploded perspective view of the'filing tray and cover, a part of the cover being broken awayto-illustrate the hinging and locking means;

"'Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the wedgeshaped lever which controls thepositioning of the .pre'sserplate; 1 a

Fig. 3showsTarearnelevation-view of the follower "plate andthe means bywhich it (Fig.4 shows a longitudinal-sectional view of the tray clearlyillustrating the means for controlling the'positiom'n of both theforward presser plate and the o'l lowe'r plate, the dottedlines'indicating' the released positions of these plates,

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the tray,

' illustrating the controllingmeans for the follower plate; I I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral is used toindicate a filing tray formed with the-usual sidewalls, end walls andbase, and the numerahll indicates the cover therefor. The rear end wallis formed, at its top, with one element '12 ofa pivotalconnection, thecompanion'element13 of this pivotal connection being fixed to the cover11. By mating these elements a pivotal connection is formed which seatsthe rear wall. of the cover'to' the rear wall of the tray, and when theforward end wall of thecover is locked to the forward end wall of. thetray (diagrammatic means for which is-illustrated at 14) the elements 12and 13 are locked in position so that the cover 11 is firmly locked tothe filing tray.

The follower plate 21 is hinged to a base 15 mounted, in the customaryway, for slid able movement along the base of the tray, and thismovement is controlled by the spring-actuated lever 16. The manner inwhich the base 15 is movable is not specifically described, as it willcomprise the basis for a separate application, and it is only sulficientfor the purposes of this application that the base be mounted forslidable and controlled movement. The numerals 17 and 18indicate'companion angular levers, each being pivotally mounted at 19 tothe common support 20. These levers are exactly the same in everyrespect, both as to shape and position, and are simultaneously operatedand controlled. Their mounting and construction is such that when thelevers are at their downward position, as shown in the full lines inFig. 4, their forward ends force the follower plate 21 to asubstantially vertical position, and'contact the same, thereby holdingit in this substantially vertical position. Secured to the followerplate 21, and mounted for pivotal movement therefrom as shown at 22, isa control rod formed with two arms, 23*and 24 respectively, whichproject toward the angle levers, 17 and 18 re spectively, and are bentso as to form arms, '25 and 26 respectively, which pass through orificesin their respective angle'levers, 17 and 18. The construction andmounting of the angle levers, and the control rod, is such that when theangle levers have been moved downwardly to their limit of movement, asshown in Fig. 4, the control rod arms have been depressed slightlybeyond a straight line between the mounting of the control rod and thepivotal mounting of-the angle levers. It is obvious this projects thepivotal connection between the control rod and the angle levers beyondthe dead center, so that the angle levers are locked in this position,and, when so locked, the follower plate 21 is held forwardly to function.to compress the papers which are filed. Obvious, the follower plate maybe positioned as desired in the tray by the positioning of the slidingplate 15.

The numeral 27 indicates a forward presser plate which is hinged to asupport 28 mounted in the forward part of the tray, the hinge being atthe base of the plate, as shown clearly in Fig. l. This support 28preferably comprises wall, spaced from the forward wall of the tray, andthrough this support wall I have provided an orifice 29. A control lever30 is mounted, for pivotal movement, parallel to the plate 27, and onthe forward end of the control lever is a wedge-shaped element 31 whichis positioned at right angles to the plate 27. Also secured to the plate27 is a lug which projects forwardly through the orifice 29, and has ahook 83- formed thereon to contact the front side of the wall of thesupport 28, so as to negative the possibility of the plate 27 moving toofar rearwardly on its hinge, when papers are not in the cabinet. Thenumeral 34 indicates a handle on the control. lever 30 for operating thesame, and the numeral 35 indicates a stop member on the plate 27 todetermine the upward and downward limits of movement of the lever 30.

The construction and positioning of the plate 27 andlever 30 are suchthat when the lever is moved so as tolift the wedge-shaped end 31, theplate 27 may be inclined forwardly, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig.l, so as to provide ready and convenient access to papers that arefiled, or to release the pressure so papers may be inserted. When thelever 30 is moved so as to force the wedge end 31 downwardly, the wedgeis insertedbetweenthe support plate 28 and the plate 27, thereby forcingthe plate 27 forwardly into a substantially vertical position pressingagainst the papers in the tray.

From my construction the presser plate 27 and. the follower plate 21,when they are both moved and locked in their vertical positions, willhold the papers firmly in positionit, of course, being obvious that thefollower plate has been moved forwardly to proper position by thepositioning of the plate 15. Vl l'ien it is desired to release thepressure of the plates on the papers, the position of the plate 15 isnot changed, but the operator simply lifts the ends 25 and 26 of thecontrol lever, thus elevating the pivotal. joint between the anglelevers and the control lever, which elevates the angle levers andpermits the plate 21 to be movedinto its rear position, asshown by thedotted lines in Fig. 4. Thecontrol lever 30 is also moved upwardly soas. to withdraw the wedge end 31, thereby permitting the presser plate27 to be moved forwardly, and these two plates being releasedsimultaneously furnish mos-t ready access to the papers filed, or makesit very easy to file any papers desired.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a filing tray, a presser means comprising a support aflixed in theforward end of the tray; a plate hinged to said support, a lever havinga wedge-shaped end, pivoted to said plate, so arranged that the wedgeend may be forced downwardly between the plate and a wall of the supportfor forcing and retaining the plate in a substantially verticalposition, and may be moved upwardly to withdraw the wedge end fromcontact with the companion wall, and thereby permit the plate to beinclined forwardly from its hinge.

2. In a filing tray, a presser means comprising a support afiixed in theforward end of the tray and having av wall spaced from the front of thetray; a plate hinged to said support, a lever, provided with aright-angular positioned wedge arm, pivotally mounted upon the saidplate; a control arm secured to the said plate and projecting forwardlythrough a slot in the support wall, said arm being provided with a hookto contact the front side of the wall of the support and limit themovement of the plate, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a filing tray, a presser means comprising a support aflixed in theforward end of the tray; a plate hinged to said support; a wedge-shapedmember secured to the plate; control means whereby the wedge-shapedmember may be forced between the plate and the support to force theplate to a substantially vertical position, or withdrawn from betweenthe plate and the support to permit the plate to be inclined forwardly,substantially as shown and described.

4. In a filingtray, a follower comprising a plate secured for slidablemovement in the base of the tray; means to lock the plate in any desiredposition; a presser plate hinged to the slidable plate; angle leverspivotally secured to the slidable plate and projecting forwardly to thehinged plate; a control rod pivotally secured to the hinged plate andhav ing pivotal connection with the angle levers,

the construction being such that when the angle levers are moveddownwardly upon their pivots they will move the hinged plate to asubstantially vertical position and hold it there, and at the same timepositioning the pivotal connection of the control rod below a deadcenter, substantially as shown. and described.

5. In a filing tray,a follower comprising a plate secured, for slidablemovement, in the base of the tray; means to lock the plate in anydesired position; a follower plate hinged to the slidable plate; anglelevers pivotally secured to the slidable plate; a control rod pivotallysecured to the follower plate and also pivotally secured to the anglelevers, the construction being such that when the angle levers are intheir downward position the connection of the angle levers with thecontrol rod will be depressed below a line extendin between theconnection of the control to with the follower plate and the connectionof the angle levers to the slidable plate, substantially as shown anddescribed.

NELSON S. WELK.

